How to Lose Weight in the Real World
Ive lost 5 pounds within the last three weeks. Hooray for me! I bet youre wondering how I did it. I didnt starve myself, I didnt take any weight loss supplements and I didnt have liposuction!
I did it the old fashioned way by setting a reasonable goal, eating what was filling and good for me instead of for taste and exercising the right way for me.
This is something you may not want to hear but bear with me. As someone who has been at least 40 pounds overweight for the last 10 years and has tried every diet in the book, I think Ive finally hit on the secret to losing weight.
You see, Ive always wanted to be able to eat whatever I want (chocolate, cake and cheeseburgers) and be thin. I did when I was a teenager, why shouldnt I be able to do it as an adult?
Because this is the real world, sister my soul answers back,and its just not possible. Having children did a number on your metabolism and getting older doesnt help. Its a scientific fact so get over it and deal with reality!
Ok, so a visit to my doctor confirmed the truth that the way Ive been eating is not healthy. I wont go into the specifics but prescription medication is not far away unless I do something, fast.
Or maybe this is what finally made me face the truthan impending event (my nephews wedding) in May. I dont want to be the aunt who has to wear some hideous dress that is too tight because shes too fat to wear anything else.
So how to do it? I was always intrigued by those programs on TV where they provide you food and you lose weight. Sounds great to mesend me foodI eat itI lose weight. Until I do a little due diligence and find out how expensive it is and that eventually you have to eat real food again anyway.
Finally, I look into weight watchers and find out its essentially the same program only they dont send you food and its not expensive. Its the real world, baby!
So I sign up and make a reasonable goal. I pick 3 pounds by the end of the month, Sounds do-able. Not only that but I can eat what I want, I just have to count the cost in points. So I need to count the chocolate cake (5 points) and choose if its really worth it.
Deciding to eat whats healthy, filling and good for you is better than deciding to eat based on what tastes good. The reason it tastes good is because it has a lot of fat in it. Just because you have the points to eat the cake doesnt mean you should eat it. If you do, youll end up hungry 15 minutes later and there goes your plan for the day. Do you like being hungry more than you like being full? Stick to healthy food, you wont be hungry and you can occasionally eat cake if you plan for it.
Then, I decide to exercise moderately just 30 minutes a day. It gives me a couple of extra points a day and surprise, surprise, I feel better. My mood lifts, and I dont need food to make me feel better. Buy an Ipod (or use a CD player or radiowhatever!) and exercise to music. Its energizing, relieves stress and helps you lose weight!
By the way, in my personal opinion, forget about strength training until you lose a significant amount of weight. I am not a personal trainer or exercise physiologist but if you are 40 pounds overweight and you start strength training, yeah, youll build muscle that burns off the fat but youll gain weight (you heard it beforeMuscle weighs more than fat) and it will derail your motivation. Stick to cardio, lose 20 pounds, and then pick up strength training gradually.
Thats it. Losing weight in the Real world. Ive met my goal for the month so the pressures off. Everything else I lose this month is just gravy.
Eunice Coughlin is the founder of http://www.healthy-living-for-moms.com , a resource for moms of all ages and stages who seek physical health and wellness.
